Compressing tool



' May 4, 1937. H. A. DOUGLAS v 2,079,498

COMPRES S ING TOOL Filed June 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l HARRY A. DOUGLAS rd M /6 Arrr May 4, 1937. H A LA 2,079,498

COMPRES S ING TOOL Filed June28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 trical conductors to form couplings.

Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to hand tools for compressing metallic articles, and is an improvement of the hand tool as disclosed in my prior copending application for patent, Serial No. 647,327, filed December 15, 1932, issued on May 28, 1935 as Patent Number 2,002,502.

Among other objects the invention aims to provide a compressing tool embodying automatic means for limiting the pressure exerted upon the article.

The invention is of particular utility in its embodiment, as here illustrated, in a tool for swedging metallic terminal members to metallic elec- An object in particular is to provide an efficient and convenient hand tool of this character for expeditiously and economically making couplings such as disclosed in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 727,503, filed May 25, 1934, issued on March 17, 1936, as Patent No. 2,034,090.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detail description thereof and the novel features of my inventive concept will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification- Figure l is a view in front elevation of a tool embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1 with parts broken away and partly in section.

Figure 3 is a partial view similar to Figure 1, but showing a different operative position, parts being removed or shown in section, taken on the line 3-3, Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, to illustrate the internal construction;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken on the line i of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of Figure 1, with parts broken away.

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary View of the operating head on a somewhat larger scale with parts broken away to show the internal construction adjusted to receive the maximum article.

Figure 7 is a View in section taken on the line 'i-? of Figure 6.

1 Figure 8 is a view in section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 7 with parts adjusted to receive the minimum article as shown in position and having been swedged.

Figure 10 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 8 adjusted to receive the maximum article as shown in position at the end of the swedged action.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line |l--ll of Figure 6.

Referring in detail to the construction shown in the drawings, the illustrative tool includes an operating head I and operating handles 2 and 3. The head I is preferably of a flat back plate 4 having a rounded end 5 formed on the arc of a circle and a handle supporting portion 6 formed on the arc of a circle of greater radius than the rounded end joined by arcs of circles tangential to both portions provided with a continuous upstanding flange I struck up about the margin of the plate 4.

It is preferable to mount one or more circular cam or operating plates 8, the form illustrated shows two, and a circular cover plate 9 concentrically with the rounded end 5 and of such a diameter as to be snugly but rotatively received with the marginal flange i, and each of the plates 8 and 9 are provided with similar radial extensions l and II, respectively, adapted to lie over the handle supporting portion 6 of the back plate 4 and terminated adjacent the flange I about said portion. The top of the cover plate- 9 is flush with the top of the embracing flange l and is provided diametrically opposite the radial extension with a radial tongue l2 struck down and then outwardly below the top surface, the tongue I2 is adapted to be received within a circumferential slot I 3 in the flange 1 to hold the plates 4, B and 9 in contact with each other and the contiguous cam plate 8 is recessed below the tongue l2, as at l4, to clear the depression of the tongue. The slot I3 is of sufficient length to allow the oscillation of the radial extensions in and II between the portions of the flange 1 embracing the handle supporting portion 6 of the back plate 4.

The handles 2 and 3 are preferably of similar construction and each is preferably formed of a strip of metal I struck downwardly to form parallel flanges l6 which are extended beyond the body portion l5 in the direction of the operating head. The extending flanges 16 of handle 2 embrace the handle supporting portion v5 and flange 1 of the back plate 4 and are pivotally mounted thereon adjacent the tangential margin thereof by a headed bolt l1 passing through one flange I6 of the handle 2, through a spacer I8 of a height equal to the back plate flange l and through the back plate portion 6 to be riveted to the engaging head W and the flanges l6 of the handle 3 are passed over the handle 2 and the 5 ends thereof embrace the handle supporting portion 6 and flange l of the back plate 4 and are pivotally connected through the radial extensions l0 and H and through an arcuate slot M in the handle supporting portion 6 of the back plate 10 4 by the headed interengaging threaded bolts 20 and Zl. The handles 2 and 3 are pivotally connected to each other at an equal distance from their respective pivoted ends by a headed bolt 22 passing from one side through the embracing flanges l6 of the handles 2 and 3 and through a spacing sleeve 23 to be riveted to a holding bead 23 The arcuate slot in the back plate 4 is of such proportion that when pressure is applied to the handles 2 and 3 to cause rotation about the pivot 22, the handle 3 pivoted to the cam and cover plates 8 and 9 may impart a rotative movement to the said plates in the direction of the fixed pivot ll of handle 2.

25 The cover plate 9 is provided with a circular aperture 2 3 concentric with the rounded end 5 and of sufiicient diameter to receive the maximum size of the article to be swedged. Each cam plate, or plates, 8 is provided with a concentric aperture 25 of much greater diameter for a purpose later described. The back plate 4 is provided with four oppositely disposed similar triangular depressions 26 leaving radial spokelike portions 2'! in the body of the back plate 4 with the central or hub portion 28 struck outward to form a circular depression upon the interior of the back plate concentric and of equal diameter to the aperture 24 of the cover plate 9. The back plate 4 has four depressions 29 intermediate the spokelike members 21 arranged on a circle concentric with the rounded end to provide bearing surfaces upon the interior of the back plate for the adjacent cam plate 8.

Four oppositely disposed similar radially reciprocable rectangular jaws 30 are mounted upon the back plate 4 between the spokelike members 27 and cover plate 9 which are guided between the angular edges SI of the triangular depressions 2% of the back plate 4 preferably by providing a groove 32 along each edge on the side adjacent the back plate 4 and providing each jaw 30 with a rectangular extension 33 on each side adjacent the inner end thereof to travel in said grooves 32. Each jaw is provided with a swedging tooth 34 on the side adjacent the cover plate 9 of reduced thickness extending from the side extensions 33 toward the center of the rounded end 5, as shown in Figure 10, and each tooth 34 brought to an apex coincident with the longitudinal center line of the jaw, preferably by cutting the body of the tooth away from the apex upon similar convex arcs, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. The opposite end '35 of each jaw 30 is rounded on the arc of a circle with its center lying on the longitudinal center line of the jaw andprojects beyond the outer extremity of the track or groove 32 formed upon the triangular depression 26.

The margins of the aperture 25 of the cam plate 8 are provided with four oppositely disposed similar arcuate cutouts 36 adapted to receive the respective rounded ends 35 of the jaws 36 when in their outermost position with the pivot 20 of the cam plate 8 and handle 3 at its greatest distance from the pivot I I of the handle 2. The margins of the cam plates 8 are also provided with similar arcuate cutouts 31 leading from similar sides of the cutouts 36 with their respective centers an equal distance from the center of the rounded end 5 to impart an inward movement to the respective jaws upon rotation of the cam plate 8 imparted by bringing the handles 2 and 3 toward each other.

When it is desired to swedge a terminal upon a conductor of the type shown in Figure 10, and presuming the terminal 38 is the article of maximum size for the tool shown, the terminal is placed upon the conductor 39 and the assembled parts are inserted through the central aperture 24 in the cover plate 9, with the jaws 39 at the end of their outward movement, and the end of the terminal is centered within the recess by the struck out portion 28 of the back plate. The handles 2 and 3 are brought together which causes the jaws 30, through cam plate 8, to uniformly advance toward each other, so that the respective teeth 34 thereon uniformly engage and depress the terminal 38 upon the conductor 39, as shown in Figures 3 and 10, with sufiicient force to cause the metals of the terminal and conductor to flow into each other as the swedging operation is terminated.

The tool is so proportioned that in the case of a terminal 33, as shown in Figure 10, the depression in the back plate l will position the terminal within the tool, so that the jaws will uniformly swedge all terminals of this type at the desired location to form a perfect coupling. In order to adapt this machine to produce the same result with the tapered type of terminals of the type shown in Figure 9 which are formed of various.

sizes, the back plate A will properly position such a terminal which snugly passes through the central aperture 23 of the cover plate 9. As shown in Figure 9, the desired location of swedging the terminal se is upon the forward taper ll adjacent the end, so that as the terminals of this type d crease in diameter they must be held with their ends spaced apart from the back plate 5. To accomplish this the cover plate 9 is provided with a diainetrical portion 42 struck up from the underside providing a guideway between the inner surfaces of the struck up portion and the contiguous cam plate 8 for the reciprocation of rectangular apertured plates 53 and M on each side of the central aperture 24. As shown in Figure 7, the plate 53 is provided with an aperture 45 of less diameter than the central aperture 24 adjacent its inner end and plate M is provided with an aperture Q6 of still less diameter. As shown in Figure 9, the terminal 46 is engaged in the aperture 16 of the plate M in such a position as to locate the taper M to be swedged by the jaws 33 in the proper place upon the conductor.

In order to adjust the size of the terminal receiving aperture of the tool each plate is provided with an operating member adapted to be reciprocated within a slot A! in the struck up portion 42 of the cover plate above each plate 43 and M. The plates &3 and M are of such dimension that when the operating member engages the end of the slot l-l most distant from the central opening 24 in the cover plate 9 the plate will uncover said opening and when the plate has been reciprocated to cause its operating member to engage the oppcsite end of the slot A l the aperture in the plate will be concentric to the central aperture 2% of the cover plate. In order to secure the plates l3 and M at each end of reciprocation, it is preferable to provide each end of each slot 4? with a circular enlargement 48 and provide the plate operating members in the form of a headed pin 49 passing through an internally shouldered sleeve 50 open .therethrough to be riveted or otherwise be secured to the plate. A coil spring 52 is interposed between the head 5| and inner shoulder of the sleeve which will cause the spherical shaped end to engage the circular enlargement 48 at the ends of the slots 41 requiring a compression of the spring 52 before the plate operated by the pin 49 can be reciprocated.

While the oscillation of the cam plates 8 in one direction advance the jaws 39 to swedge the article additional means must be provided to retract the jaws after swedging. To this end each jaw 30 is provided with a stud 53 adjacent each outer end adapted to pass through a rectangular slot 54 in the cover plate 9, each of the slots 54 extending from an inner end lying nearer the center of the cam plate 8 to an out-er end lying further from said center. The slots 54 are similarly disposed about the center of the cover plate 9 and are so disposed that as the handle 3 rotates the cover plate 9 and cam plates 8 in unison to ad- Vance the jaws the studs 53 will travel freely within the slots 55 and when the handle is moved to rotate said plates in the opposite direction the edges of the slots 59 adjacent the center of the cover plate will engage the under sides of the studs 53 and withdraw the jaws 35. A coil spring 55 is preferably employed to normally maintain the handles 2 and 3 in their outermost position. As shown the spring 55 is mounted within the handle 3 between the flanges It with one end secured about a finger 56 struck in from the body 85 of the handle 3 and the other end secured about a pin 51 secured to the flanges l6 of the handle 2 below and in advance of the handle pivot 22.

The handles 2 and 3 act as crossed levers to force the jaws 39 to swedge the terminal upon the conductor and if pivoted together upon a fixed pivot it would frequently happen that the operator would place too little or too much pressure upon the terminal which would result in either insufiicient compression to effect a secure coupling or too great compression which might fracture the terminal or the conductor or both. To efiect a uniform coupling at each operation of the tool means are provided whereby the handles are brought as near together as possible at each operation to apply a uniform predetermined pressure on the terminal irrespective of its size or type. To accomplish this the extended flanges iii of the handle 2 are each provided with a lost motion slot 58 about the handle pivot 22 and the end of the slot adjacent the body I5 of handle 2 constitutes a fulcrum means normally held in engagement with the pivot 22 by a resilient member interposed between the said body l5 and the spacing sleeve 23 about the pivot 22 which will allow normal rotation of the handles 2 and 3 about the pivot 22 and will resist a movement of the pivot in the slot 58 until a predetermined pressure is applied upon the terminal engaged by the jaws 3B. In accordance with this invention the resilient member includes a U-shaped slide or cam means 59 mounted to travel between the flanges It with its base in sliding engagement with the body 15 of the handle 2 and the edges of its arms similarly sloped away from said body l5, preferably at an angle of forty five degrees to enter between the body l5 and the spacing sleeve 23.

The opposite end of the slide is preferably bent downward to form a right angular closure 69 between the arms. The guide pin 6! is secured at one end to closure 60 and projects therefrom with its free end slidably mounted in a bracket 62 secured to the body l5 of the handle 2 between the depending fianges l6 thereon. The sloping edges of the member 59 are held in engagement with the spacing sleeve 23 by a spring 63 coiled about the guide pin 6| with one end bearing against the closure 69 and the other against the bracket 62. The spring 63 is constructed of such strength that it forces the mem ber 59 between the body l5 of the handle 2 and spacing sleeve 23 to normally maintain the handle pivot 22 in engagement with the end of the slot 58 and upon pressure being applied to the handles to cause the jaws 30 to' compress the terminal and the jaws encounter a predetermined resistance the end pivots H and 20 become fulcrums of the crossed arms and the spring 63 will be compressed allowing the pivot 22 to travel through the slot toward the other end preventing further compression of the jaws 30. It is preferable to provide the guide pin 6| with an annular groove 64 forming shoulders thereon with the shoulder 65 nearest the slide closure Ell having a sloping or chamfered surface so arranged and proportioned that when the slide 59 is in normal engagement with the spacing sleeve 23, before the application of pressure upon the handles, the annular groove 64 will be in engage- I ment with the upper margins of the bearing for the pin (ii in the bracket 62, as shown in Figure 1. When pressure is applied to the handles to operate the jaws to compress the terminal the an nular groove 63 remains in engagement with the bracket 62 until the predetermined resistance is met by the jaws and upon the application of greater pressure the chamfered edge is caused to ride downwardly over the bracket 62 to free the pin 6| to slide within the bracket 62, as shown in Figure 3.

Summarizing the operation of that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, let it be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1 and that a terminal sleeve, such as 38, is to be swedged onto a conductor 39 disposed therein. The assembled sleeve and conductor are inserted in the aperture 24 until the assembly abuts the recess formed by the struck out portion 28. The handles 2, 3 are then moved toward each other by grasping them with the hand, thereby causing the pivots I7, 20 to move toward each other. This movement results in relative movement between the plates 8, 9 on the one hand, and the plate 4 on the other, the plates 8, 9 rotating within the annular bearing provided by the flange 1.

Rotation of the plates 8 causes the cam surfaces 3'! on these plates to act against the adjacent arcuate ends of the jaws 30, continued rotation causing the teeth 34 of the jaws to move radially inwardly against the terminal sleeve 38 thereby forming swedge indentations in the terminal 38 and causing the metals of the terminal 38 and conductor 39 to flow into each other, forming a solid-metal cross-section at the general plane of the swedge indentations when the swedging operation is completed.

During the hereinbefore described rotation of the plates 8, the pivot 22 is held in engagement with the lower end of slot 58 (as viewed in Figure 1) by the action of the cam means 59 which is held in position by engagement of the chamfered shoulder 65 with the bracket 62. If, however, the pressure applied by the hand gripping the handles 2, 3 exceeds a predetermined amount, the chamfered shoulder 65 slips off of the bracket 62 and any further movement of the handles 2, 3 toward each other will cause the pivot 22 to move away from the lower end of the slot 58 thereby moving the cam means 59 to the right, as viewed in Figure l, and compressing the spring 63. Thus, during any such further movement of the handles 2, 3 the pivots I1, 20 are not caused to further approach each other but the handles 2, 3 merely fulcrum about the pivots ll, 20.

While the plates 8 are acting to cam the jaws 36 radially inwardly as hereinbefore described, the studs 53, carried by the jaws, move freely in the slots 54 in the plate 9 as the plate 9 rotates clockwise as viewed in Figure 1. When the swedging of the terminal 38 has been completed and the grip of the hand on the handles 21, 3 is released, the handles 2, 3 will move apart under the influence of spring 55 thereby causing the plates 8, 9 to rotate counterclockwise with respect to the plate 4. It will be observed that counterclockwise rotation of the plates 8 from the position shown in Figure 3 will have no effect on the jaws 30 since the cam surfaces 31 will move away from the adjacent arcuate ends of the jaws 30. However, counterclockwise rotation of the plate 9 causes the radially inner sides of V the slots 54 to engage the studs 53 on the jaws 39 thereby positively moving the jaws radially outwardly to the position they have in Figure 1.

It will of course be evident that as the handles 2, 3 move apart from the position shown in Figure 3, the spring 63 will act to move the pivot 21] back against the lower end of the slot 58 and at the same time the ohamfered shoulder 65 will again become seated against the left side of the bracket 62 as in Figure 1.

The manner in which the apparatus is adjustable for different sizes and shapes of terminals, by shifting of the sleeves or knobs 50, is obvious from the construction of this adjusting means.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiment of my invention provides a new and improved compressing tool. On the other hand, it also will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiment of my invention may be variously changed and modified, or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations than those illustrated, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly, the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and my invention is not limited thereto.

What I claim is:

1. swedging mechanism including a swedging element, means for transmitting force to said swedging element including levers connected by a pivotal lost motion connection, said connection including pivot means on one of said levers and cooperating fulcrum means on the other of said levers, said pivot means being movable away from said fulcrum means, means for yieldingly maintaining said pivot means in abutment with said fulcrum means, said yielding means extending substantially longitudinally 'of one of said levers.

2. Swedging mechanism including a swedging element, means for transmitting force to said swedging element, yielding means adapted to be put under stress by said force transmitting means, and means for preventing said yielding means from being placed under stress until said force reaches a predetermined amount.

3. swedging mechanism including a swedging element, primary means for guiding Work into cooperative relation with said swedging element, auxiliary means for guiding work into cooperative relation with said swedging element, said auxiliary means being non-detachable from said mechanism and movable to replace said primary guiding means.

4. swedging mechanism including a swedging element, primary means for guiding work into cooperative relation with said swedging element, auxiliary means, disposed in a recess in said primary means, for guiding work into cooperative relation to said swedging element,said auxiliary means being movable to replace said primary guiding means.

5. Swedgingmechanism including a swedging element, primary means for guiding work into cooperative relation with said swedging element, movable auxiliary means for guiding work into cooperative relation with said swedging element, means for limiting movement of said auxiliary means to a plurality of limiting positions in at least one of which it is disposed in guiding position to replace said primary means, and means for moving said auxiliary guiding means into said limiting positions.

' 6. A hand swedge, comprising: carrier means having a space for reception of an article to be swedged; a plurality of inwardly directed swedging elements supported by said carrier means, spaced circumferentially about and relatively movable toward and away from said space; arcuate actuating means, mounted for movement relative to said carrier means, including an outermost plate having a radial extension and at least one arcuate plate, having a radial extension, intermediate said outermost plate and said carrier means, one of said plates being provided with means to move said swedging elements toward said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in one direction, and another of said plates being provided with means to move said swedging elements away from said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in the reverse direction; an arcuate flange, on said carrier means, within which said radial extensions of said plates rotatably fit; operating means including a pair of handle levers; and means operatively connecting one of said handles to said carrier means and the other of said handles to said actuating means.

7. A hand swedge, comprising: carrier means having a space for reception of an article to be swedged; a plurality of inwardly directed swedging elements supported by said carrier means, spaced circumferentially about and relatively movable toward and away from said space; actuating means, mounted for movement relative to said carrier means, including an outermost plate and at least one plate intermediate said outermost plate and said carrier means, one of said plates being provided with means to move said swedging elements toward said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in one direction, and another of said plates being provided with means to move said swedging elements away from said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in the reverse direction; operating means including a pair of handle levers, and means operatively connecting one of said handles to said carrier means and the other of said handles to said actuating means; and said swedge comprising means fulcruming said handles to each other to efiect relative movement of said actuating means by relative movement of said handles, and adjusting means for varying the maximum size of article which may be received in said space.

8. A hand swedge, comprising: carrier means having a space for reception of an article to be swedged; a plurality of inwardly directed swedging elements, spaced circumferentially about and relatively movable toward and away from said space; means for supporting and guiding said swedging elements including portions of said carrier means bent out of the general plane of said carrier means; and actuating means, mounted for movement relative to said carrier means, constructed and arranged to move said swedging elements toward said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in one direction.

9. Swedging mechanism including a swedging element, means for transmitting force to said swedging element, including levers connected by a pivotal lost' motion connection, said connection including pivot means on one of said levers and cooperating fulcrum means on the other of said levers, said pivot means being movable away from said fulcrum means, and maintaining means for yieldingly maintaining said pivot means in abutment with said fulcrum means, said maintaining means including a cam acting on said pivot means, said cam being movable in the general direction of the axis of said handles.

10. Swedging mechanism including a swedging element, means for transmitting force to said swedging element, yielding means adapted to be put under stress by said force transmitting means, and means, including an abutment and a member releasably held against movement by said abutment, constructed and arranged to prevent said yielding means from being placed under stress until said force reaches a predetermined amount thereby to cause said member to be disengaged from said abutment.

11. A hand swedge, comprising: carrier means having a space for reception of an article to be swedged; a plurality of inwardly directed swedging elements supported by said carrier means, spaced circumferentially about and relatively movable toward and away from said space; arcuate actuating means, mounted for movement relative to said carrier means, including an outermost plate, and at least one arcuate plate intermediate said outermost plate and said carrier means, one of said plates being provided with means to move said swedging elements toward said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in one direction, and another of said plates being provided with means to move said swedging elements away from said space, in response to movement of said actuating means in the reverse direction; said carrier means being provided with a recess having an arcuate inner peripheral portion within which said at least one arcuate plate rotatably fits;. operating means including a pair of handle levers, and means operatively connecting one of said handle levers to said carrier means and the other of said handle levers to said actuating means; and said swedge comprising means for fulcruming said handle levers to each other to effect relative movement of said actuating means by relative movement of said handle levers.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

